A strong weekend of rugby at Barnes last week saw 5 adult teams don the green and gold from Friday night to Sunday.

The Vets and Outriders kicked things off on Friday, the Outriders delivering a supreme performance to demolish Rosslyn Park Nomads 21-61 before venturing out to the taverns of SW London in their versio0n of Halloween fancy dress, whilst the Vets came so close to notching up their first win of the season, just falling short against Chiswick 17-14.

On Saturday, our 2’s played in another cracker against Dorking, which is fast developing into a regular fun and frolicking fixture, mirroring the first team rivalry against the same club. This time, the result didn’t go our way, as they lost narrowly 36-45.

Their 1st XV brothers in arms did though deliver their 3rd win on the bounce and continue their recovery from a poor start to the season, climbing to 7th in National League 2 South with a solid win against Leicester Lions 29-15. Director of Rugby, Jack Heald, was not impressed with the style of the performance but nevertheless was happy with 5 points as we build our momentum and desire to get back into the top 4 of the league. Jack commented: ““That was a 6 out of 10 performance, we need to execute better when we have the opportunity, and we have asked the lads to work hard this week on their consistency. It is still a win and 5 points, we will take it!”

On Sunday, our Women’s 1st XV inflicted a crushing victory over Fullerians 5-65 as they too continue to build their own league momentum.

This weekend the Men’s 1st travel to Westcombe Park in Kent. Park are a side we have not performed well against at their place over the last two seasons, having lost on both of our trips there. They have had a pretty strange season so far and are currently languishing in last but one place in the league. They started the season well, beating Henley, and have scored a bucket load of points in their other games, last week they went down to Canterbury 46-33, so we know they will be tough and uncompromising, and with their recent record at home against us they will fancy their chances against Barnes. I know our lads will be well up for the game, which they will need to be if they want to continue the recent run of victories. It should be a high scoring and entertaining match, let’s just hope we score more points than them!

Match reports for all games are below for your enjoyment.

Three adult teams play this weekend. The Men’s 1st XV take on Westcombe Park away, as stated above it will be a tough encounter, whilst the 2s travel to play the same opponents they played last week, Dorking, as Blackheath couldn’t get a team out.

On Sunday, the Women’s 1st XV travel to Bec Belles in the league.

Here’s to a fab weekend of Barnow rugby ahead, onwards and upwards!

Michael “Rhino” Whitfield - President Barnes Rugby Club

Saturday 7th November Fixtures
• Westcombe Park Men’s 1st XV - Barnes Men’s 1st XV - 2pm KO
• Dorking 2nd XV vs Barnes Men’s 2nd XV- 2pm KO *
Sunday 8th November Fixture
• Bec Belles vs Barnes Women ‘s 1st XV - 2pm KO

Fullerians Ladies 1st XV 5 – 65 Barnes Women’s 1st XV

Barnes women were back on top with a convincing 65-5 away win to Fullerians.
Still struggling with a slew of injuries in the forwards, centre Ruth was called up to 8 and with a noticeable difference in pack weights, the scrums were a bit tough.

It was fantastic to have El back in the fold after 20 months out with injury. She slotted straight back in controlling the team from 10 and scoring 2 tries.

Liv Ponsford showed no sign of slowing down scoring in the first 3 minutes before going on to score 3 more tries and kicking 5 conversions.

Charlotte Bigland had an impressive game at fullback running some fantastic lines and getting in for a try.

The forwards made good ground through big carries in the middle of the park, creating space for the backs out wide.

Ultimately, Barnes played with more style and pace, easily outperforming Fullerians.

Rosslyn Park Nomads 21 - 61 Barnes Outriders - words by Outriders Supremo Jason Betteley

OUTRIDERS LIGHT UP THE ROCK IN NINE-TRY FRIDAY NIGHT DEMOLITION

Barnes run riot under the floodlights as Rosslyn Park Nomads are swept aside.

Barnes Outriders produced the performance of their season so far, dismantling Rosslyn Park Nomads 21-61, in a breathtaking Friday night display under the floodlights at The Rock. Nine tries, eight conversions, and a statement of intent from a side that is growing in confidence with every passing week.

Kick-off came at 8pm and the Outriders were in no mood to ease into the occasion. Tom W – who seems to score on sight these days - crossed the line inside two minutes to set the tone, and from that moment Rosslyn Park were chasing shadows. Danny W added a second on 15 minutes, Freddie McC converting both with calm authority from the tee.

When Alex C crashed over on 23 minutes, Barnes were well into their stride. Tom W helped himself to a second try on 29 minutes, Jack S touched down on 35 minutes, and Danny W grabbed his brace four minutes later to complete a quite extraordinary first half. Six tries before the break – Freddie McC converting five of them – with only a single Rosslyn Park riposte on 10 minutes to blemish an otherwise flawless opening 40. Half-time: Nomads 7-40 Outriders.

The second half confirmed the gulf in class. Jack R crossed on 50 minutes, Freddie T drove over on 64mins, and Jack S rounded off the rout on 70 to complete a richly deserved nine-try haul. The Nomads grabbed two late consolations, but the result was never in doubt. Full-time Nomads 21 - 61 Outriders.

In the pack, the Outriders were given tremendous go-forward by two very different but equally important figures: Cam R – a Barnes RFC icon – will have taken particular pride in this one, having coached many of these same Outriders through their Colts days in the Barnes youth ranks. Now to be pulling on a jersey alongside them in adult rugby is, by all accounts, exactly where he wants to be. Alongside him, the inimitable “Frank the Tank” – Tom Mc – continues to defy time, bringing his trademark power and infectious enthusiasm to a young, lively Outriders squad that he clearly adores being part of.

The vocal and wonderfully enthusiastic “Outriders Ultras” – friends and family lining The Rock touchline – played their part too, roaring their side on through all nine tries with the kind of energy that makes Friday night rugby feel like an occasion.

And what an occasion it was. Final thanks to Rosslyn Park Nomads for their warm hospitality in the clubhouse afterwards – players and Ultras alike made the most of it, rounding off a brilliant Friday night in fine style … before the players staggered off towards Putney and The Fez Club in their blue faced-Smurf and other Halloween Outfits!!

Rosslyn Park Nomads 21 (3T) – 61 (9T) Barnes Outriders 57 (Tries: Tom W x2, Danny W x2, Alex C, Jack S x2, Jack R, Freddie T; Conversions: Freddie McC x7, Jake S x1)

Chiswick 17 – 14 Barnes Vets - words by skipper Horts

Some of the elders amidst you have enquired about Vets pre-match prep and it can be reliably confirmed that, yes, Finchy now has us two balls and they are scrubbed clean!
Pre-match prep in the 26/27 season has taken on a distinctly different form where when we take to the pitch for our dynamic warm up, learning the names of the new faces takes much longer than explaining to the forwards what John did to Mary!

This week was no different with a scattering of former 1XV mega stars who managed to dust off years in the wilderness (Mothercare & Legoland), and a rather impressive specimen from the 18/19 Champions season who went on to have stormer and some new faces from the Clubs own Mini & Junior section.

Our opponents, Chiswick, had won away at Guildford the previous week and had politely enquired whether this fixture might be postponed allowing their players a little rest. Err… no!

It was immediately apparent that Chiswick's 28-man squad had been playing together in some shape or form for decades. Barnes, meanwhile, were still working out who was who, let alone who was supposed to be standing where.

And so the tone was set.

Chiswick came out firing, unleashing relentless attacking pressure and the sort of structured, attritional rugby that comes from actually knowing your teammates' names. A barrage of high tackles from Chiswick took its toll on Barnes, with the Vets forced to empty the bench almost before everyone had worked out where to leave their tracksuits.

Despite the early casualties, Barnes dug in. The first half was fiercely contested, with neither side able to establish any meaningful dominance, somewhat helped by the game being forced into uncontested scrums. With five minutes remaining, Barnes were camped in the Chiswick 22, hammering away at the line but frustratingly unable to convert pressure into points. The sides went into the break with Chiswick narrowly ahead, 12–7.

The second half saw Barnes produce some great attacking rugby, inspired by stellar individual performances from Dave Riley, deservedly awarded Man of the Match, and James Harris, amongst others. Against the odds, Barnes wrestled back the initiative and edged into a 14–12 lead.

With 20 minutes remaining, however, another injury reduced Barnes to 14 men, with the bench long since exhausted. What followed was a monumental defensive effort. The Vets refused to buckle. Ageing and tiring bodies were thrown into contact.

Unfortunately, Chiswick's numerical advantage eventually told, and the hosts crossed late on to snatch a 17–14 victory.

Chiswick, last season's league champions, deserved their win, but they were made to work exceptionally hard for it.

Barnes Vets can take enormous pride in a sterling 70-minute performance against a well-drilled, settled and coached side.

By the final whistle, every Barnes player appeared to be hobbling, wounded or nursing something that would require a lengthy explanation to their other half. But heads remained high, the post-match beers flowed while still getting to know each others’ names!

The team that played was:
1. Scotty’s Dad
2. Tom Galvin
3. Finchy
4. Conrad
5. James Harris
6. Bang - David
7. Nick Gilfillan
8. Horts (Capt)
9. Julian Hill
10. Dave Riley
11. Valodya
12. James
13. Ratu Jona -Legs
14. Paul Gordon
15. Scotty
16. Pagey
17. OJ

Next Fixture: Friday 20th November away to Weybridge Vandals - be there!
Horts & Co
Vets@Barnesrfc.org

Barnes Men’s 1st XV 29 - 15 Leicester Lions - words by Chairman Colum Mannix

Barnes scored early on after the kick off to go five points up, but the Lions responded quickly with a penalty to cut the home team’s lead to 5 - 3.

Immediately Barnes went the length of the pitch with Iago Davies scoring, and Jack Park converting, extending the Barnes lead to 12-3.

Barnes were on top at that point, and they needed to take advantage of that pressure, and make the magic happen. With a scrum 10 metres out, that magic did indeed happen! Jack Park slotted a perfect grubber kick through for Will Nicholson to pick up and dot down - Barnes ended the first half in a comfortable position 17 - 3 up.

Early in the second half, a yellow card against Barnes hooker, Jasper Cameron, handed the Lions an advantage which they take with a converted try to reduce the deficit to 17-10.
With Lions offside Barnes kicked for touch and, from a lineout 20 metres out, Cameron redeemed his ten minutes in the bin by driving over for the home side to stretch their lead to 22-10, securing the four try bonus point in the process.

Lions then found another gear, and Barnes defended valiantly in a scrum under the posts however Lions spin it and score in the corner to get back in contention 22:15,
With the game reaching its climax, Barnes looked to finish with a flourish and No:8 Fergus Hughes duly obliged with a try. With Jack Park converting, the final score was 29-15 to Barnes.

Director Of Rugby Jack Heald said " that was a 6 out of 10 performance from the lads but we'll take the 5 points and can now look to move up the table from 7th. Next week we are off to Westcombe Park, and we have not played well there in the last two seasons, losing on both visits so we will be looking to up our game to continue the winning habit”.

Barnes Men’s 2nd XV 36 - 45 Dorking Men’s 2nd XV - words by coach Tommy Burkett

Barnes 2s served up another thoroughly entertaining afternoon against Dorking, although we could have done with slightly less entertainment on the visitors’ side of the scoreboard.
Dorking struck first, but Barnes responded in style. Tries from Will and Shea, both converted, put the boys 14–5 ahead and briefly suggested we might be in for a straightforward afternoon. Naturally, that would have been far too easy.

The visitors hit back before Ian Leonard crossed for his first of the day to make it 19–12. Dorking continued to play some excellent rugby, drawing level and then moving ahead as the game developed into a proper scrap.

Losing Jake towards the end of the first half was a significant blow and injuries to key players made an already tough assignment tougher. What Barnes lacked in available bodies, though, they certainly made up for in determination.

Ian grabbed his second try to keep Barnes firmly in the contest, putting together a Man of the Match performance and apparently deciding that scoring tries was the best way to avoid doing quite so much defending. A sound strategy, frankly.

Dorking kept finding answers and stretched their lead, but Barnes refused to let them disappear over the horizon. Shanley crossed to bring it back to 31–38, ensuring the visitors still had plenty to think about.

The loss of Rich later in the game, with no front-row replacements available, meant a move to uncontested scrums. By this stage, the Barnes bench was looking rather short of reinforcements and rather long on people offering encouraging words.

Another Dorking score gave Barnes more ground to make up, but there was still time for Oli Tack to cross for the final try. It was a fitting finish from a side that kept fighting right to the end, closing the score at 36–45.

Credit to Dorking, who played really well and earned their win. For Barnes, six tries, plenty of attacking quality and a refusal to roll over despite the injuries give us plenty of positives to take forward. The result wasn’t ours, but the effort certainly was.

Man of the Match: Ian Leonard — two tries, a big performance and the small matter of setting himself a fairly inconvenient standard for next week.